WASHINGTON  A two-day hearing is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday October 23 and Thursday October 24 to gain public input on the Federal Election
Commissions proposed rulemaking on those aspects of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform
Act of 2002 (BCRA) commonly referred to as "coordination".

The Commission
proposed rules to implement the statutory requirements regarding coordinated and
independent expenditures. This NPRM primarily addresses communications that are made
independently from, or in coordination with, a candidate, an authorized committee of a
candidate, or a political party committee. The proposed regulations would set forth the
meaning of "coordination." They would also set forth statutory requirements for
political party committees with respect to the permitted timing of independent and
coordinated expenditures, and transfers and assignments. Also, new rules are proposed for
reporting of independent expenditures.

The FEC issued the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on September 12, with a public-comment
and request-to-testify deadline of October 11. The Commission received 20 sets of comments
from various members of the public, groups, and party entities. Those requesting to
testify and the schedule for October 23-24 are:

Wednesday October 23

9:30 a.m.

Commissioners Opening Statements

10:00 a.m  11:00 a.m.

Robert Alt, Fellow, The Center for Constitutional
Jurisprudence Claremont Institute

This rulemaking is one of seven sets of rules required to implement BCRA, all of which
are scheduled to be completed by December 22, 2002. Rules regarding raising and spending
of nonfederal funds (soft money) and electioneering communications have been completed,
and other rulemakings implementing remaining elements in the Act are underway.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and written comments regarding these rules are
available on the Commissions web site at: